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OPM in the News

CICADAS INSPIRE DRUG-FREE ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF 3D PRINTED PEKK

October 17th, 2017

Though an effective means of helping to heal broken bones, orthopaedic implants(as foreign matter) always run the risk of creating bacterial infections in the body. Antibiotics are the usual defence in such situations, but what if medical devices could resist bacterial build-up simply because of the way they are made?

Mian Wang, Garima Bhardwaj, and Thomas J Webster’s study at Northeastern has examined the growth of common bodily bacteria on the surface of spine implants, made using OPM’s Osteofab Technology.

The Osteofab process has been FDA certified since 2013. Using CT and 3D scan data, specialists at OPM can 3D print patient-specific models for cranial, facial and spinal treatments using a proprietary PEKK powder and laser sintering process.

With a finely-tuned surface structure, described as “nanopillars with random interpillar spacing”, Osteofab samples have been compared to industry-standard PEEK implants for efficacy. The structure mimics that found in the wings of cicadas that exhibit superhydrophobicity.

Comparison with the industry standard

In the first instance, Wang, Bhardwaj and Webster assessed the bacterial growth of S. epidermidis. Though a bacteria part of normal human flora, S. epidermidis is responsible for the type of infections caught in hospital when a patient’s immune system is low.

After 5 days of culture, more than 37% less S. epidermidis were found on the OPM 3D printed PEKK surface than on the industry standard equivalent.

In the second experiment, Wang, Bhardwaj and Webster tested P. aeruginosa that can cause hospital-related pneumonia, and has advanced antibiotic resistance mechanisms. By comparison to its commercial counterparts, the 3D printed PEKK implant shows 28% less growth after one day of culture, and around a 50% decrease after a full 5 days of culture.

A promising discovery

According to findings made by Wang, Bhardwaj and Webster, “this study demonstrated for the first time, the promise that nanostructured PEKK has for numerous anti-infection orthopedic implant applications,” warranting further investigation of OPM 3D printed PEKK.